story; topic of conversation; legendary tale
Refers to a story or event that is widely talked about, often over a long period, becoming a legendary or proverbial topic. Commonly used in phrases like 語り草になる (to become the talk of the town).
彼の冒険は今でも村の語り草になっている。
His adventure is still a topic of conversation in the village.
That incident has been passed down as a legendary story.
伝説 is a formal term for a legend or traditional story, whereas 語り草 is more colloquial and refers to a story that is commonly talked about in everyday life.
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; sometimes used for clarity or stylistic reasons.
Alternate kanji spelling using 種; less common but still encountered.
Formed from 語り “telling, talk” and 草 in its figurative sense “material or occasion for something,” hence a subject that furnishes repeated storytelling or conversation.